Shloka 41

Devanagari script

त्वया नाथेन काकुत्स्थ न सनाथा वसुन्धरा।प्रमदा शीलसम्पन्ना धूर्तेन पतिना यथा।।

Transliteration

tvayā nāthena kākutstha na sanāthā vasundharā | pramadā śīlasampannā dhūrtena patinā yathā ||

Translation

カークッツタよ、汝を主としても大地は真に守られぬ。徳ある女が、狡猾な夫によって守られ得ないのと同じだ。

Word by Word

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• nāthena: as lord/protector
• nāthena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; apposition to tvayā

• kākutstha: O Kākutstha
• kākutstha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम्

• sanāthā: having a protector
• sanāthā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; predicate adjective

• vasundharā: the earth
• vasundharā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasundharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• pramadā: a woman
• pramadā: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; upamāna (standard of comparison)

• śīla-sampannā: endowed with good conduct
• śīla-sampannā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīla (प्रातिपदिक) + sampanna (सम्पन्न, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √pad)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: शीलैः सम्पन्ना; स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; adjective of pramadā

• dhūrtena: by a wicked/cunning (man)
• dhūrtena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; adjective of patinā

• patinā: by a husband
• patinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्ययम् (comparative particle: ‘as/like’)

Context

'O Kakutstha! just as a wife endowed with good character cannot be protected by a wicked husband, you cannot be a protector of this earth.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vāli
• Vasundharā (Earth)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

A ruler’s dharma is protection (rakṣaṇa) grounded in integrity; if conduct is crooked, the claim to guardianship over the earth is morally void.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli attacks Rāma’s legitimacy as a dharmic protector, using an analogy of a virtuous wife paired with an unworthy husband.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rājadharma as truthful protection—leadership must be aligned with satya and uprightness, not deception.